MARK OF THE BEAST: Microchip implants in humans becoming more viable

Some scientists say that these implants will have their 'finer points'

A
microchip implanted on human beings has chilling implications,
conjuring up images of the "Mark of the Beast" as mentioned in the Book
of revelations. Such an accessory would certainly be a boon for a
totalitarian society - but there are scientists who say that there would
be some distinct advantages with microchips for all .

Chips are already being used to manage farm animals. Farmers can track sheep, pigs and horses as they move through a gate, weigh them instantly and make sure they are eating properly.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The implanted microchips, using short-range radio frequency identification signals would be able to transmit your identity as you pass through a security checkpoint. If you are kidnapped in a foreign country, for example, such an implant could save your life.

Microchip implants like the ones pet owners use to track their dogs and cats could become commonplace in humans as shortly as 10 years. As others describe the ethics involved, the implants could offer several advantages. Soldiers and journalists in war zones, such an implant could be the difference between life and death. A chip implant could also help law enforcement quickly locate a kidnapped child.SAVE Iraqi Christians from Genocide --

"In the long run, chip implants could make it less intrusive than some emerging ID systems which rely on physical biometrics (like your fingerprints or unique eye pattern)," Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of the book "Distraction Addiction" says.

"This should be a matter of individual choice, but fighting crime should be much easier using chips," sci-fi author Larry Niven adds. Niven predicted chip implants in the 1970s and he says he supports chip implantation for security reasons, provided it is an opt-in measure.

Ramez Naam, who led the early development of Microsoft software projects and is now a popular speaker and author, said he envisions using chip implantation to help monitor the location of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Chip implants could also be used to track the activities of felons who have been released from prison.

Chips are already being used to manage farm animals. Farmers can track sheep, pigs and horses as they move through a gate, weigh them instantly and make sure they are eating properly.

"Those same chips have found their way into RFID devices to activate the gas pump from a key ring and for anti-theft devices in cars," Stu Lipoff, an electrical engineer and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers spokesman says.

"There have been people who volunteered to use them for opening the door of an apartment as a personalized ID using your arm. It could be used to track criminals targeted for patrol who might wander into a restricted area."

And beyond the obvious privacy issues, there's something strange about injecting a chip in your body, Lipoff says. He notes that pacemakers and other embedded devices are commonly used today. "People might find it a bit unsavory, but if it is not used to track you, and apart from the privacy issues, there are many interesting applications," he says.